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What did you just say?

I belong to several blog sites & receive emails from popular, well-known activist groups. I have never considered myself an activist until a few years ago. Here’s some background for you. In high school I was the “mouth” or the voice of support for the groups I belonged to. I had no problem speaking my mind or letting those in charge know my opinion. As a cheerleader, I was not only vocal for my basketball team, but vocal for the cheerleaders. Once the head coach, Coach Leggett, told me we couldn’t join the team on a particular trip because it was very far away. Being the games were during the week, coach didn’t want us to travel and be exhausted for school the next day. What did he just say? We, THE cheerleaders couldn’t go? No! That did not fly at all. I pranced to the principals office, of whom I was the pet, and complained. Well…we did go and I promised we would not complain at all about the trip or the next day at school. Numerous occasions like this occurred. God forbid if I was ever absent when there was a meeting involving common interests because I would catch flack from my fellow students, none of which would ever speak up.

Then, what I felt at the time, the most devastating day of my life happened. My beloved principal was being accused of embezzlement charges. I was mortified. My parents had to take me to the school board parish wide meeting as a community “trial.” Well, let me rephrase that…they didn’t have to, but I insisted on being there. I stood my ground in the midst of every adult there. They knew exactly what I thought about this ridiculous accusation. I loved my principal. He made sure the guys treated us girls like ladies. He demanded respect and was fair. The vote ruled against him and I was crushed. The day our “new” principal arrived at school, guess who was in the parking lot to meet him? Yea, me! He pulls up, gets out of his car and I am there. No staff, no one else, but moi! These were my words (with an attitude to match!), “My name is Geneva Herring. You are not welcome here. My principal is Mr. Rooks and he will always be my principal. I do not like you now, & I will never like you. And don’t think you will make any changes to my schedule or as far as changes go, don’t think we will do anything you say at all.” I turned and stomped off to class. Wow! I really knew how to win friends and influence people didn’t I? Serious…those words ring in my ears as if I just left the scene. We didn’t “bond,” per se, but we learned to tolerate each other. Funny how life happens. He was an artist, a sculptor & I am now very fond of his work. I grew up!

I took a blast to my past in reference to what I am noticing in society today. I wasn’t just talk then. My words carried corresponding actions. I will be the first to admit, they weren’t always the greatest actions, but no one ever said of me, I didn’t carry through. I am white-hot about what I am passionate about.

Forward ho! I’m noticing a plethora of large organizations requesting funds to support their cause for liberty. I completely understand the war we are against when it comes to our rights as Americans. I also realize insurmountable costs when it comes to advertising, forums, etc. Since I can’t actively serve on as many as I believe in, I do support them financially. Here’s a novel thought! I believe we should raise the standard. Instead of jockeying for our rights, we should courageously rally for our responsibilities or our duties. We can show people how to become so financially free & independent that their contributions alone to the government in the form of taxes we pay (after expenses! ), community charitable contributions, foundations, philanthropy, etc., turn the tide for FREEDOM. I have been enlightened to the economic dealings by listening to great audios such as “Creature from Jekyll Island,” reading book after book explaining the history of our nation and what we must do to secure our precious freedoms.

Imagine a nation consisting of free enterprise business owners who set the bar for liberty. There are multiple millionaires, billionaires & etc. & according to Paul Z. Pilzer, there are even more in the making. The standard should be to actively pursue freedom & liberty in such a way that our contribution to society alone will change the course of history. At this point, I would like to interject that while I quickly recognize I am not the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to economics, socio-economic, value of the dollar, yen, gold standards, FICA, etc., I can quickly recognize I am bright enough to surround myself with & surrender myself to a learning organization. These leaders are recognized on such a level in their brilliant knowledge of such subjects, I can almost feel my brain getting smarter when I listen to them! That is where it starts. You must be hungry enough for change, yet brave enough to execute change. I am attracted to intelligence, courage, humility & integrity. I refuse to live my dash, 1959 (-) ?? never contributing to restoring the legacy of our forefathers. If my own legacy doesn’t include recognizable names & faces of individuals, as well as families, whose lives were changed because I chose to act on my beliefs, I have lived in vain.

In my experience, as I have been involved in church for many years, the thing I glean the most is not giving people fish for a day, but teaching them to fish for a lifetime. Working in singles ministry for 17 yrs. & in the non-profit sector, I have seen first hand how the “fish for the day” approach doesn’t work. When I took the spiritual gifts test for selecting where I belong in ministry at The Oaks Fellowship, my score on mercy wasn’t high. What did it say? I was shocked until I realized I didn’t show mercy as readily as I showed solutions. While I will never receive the title of “Drama Queen” I realized I can listen to an individual & immediately move from drama to resolve before the conversation is ended. I didn’t confess I wasn’t a listener. I merely claim, while I am seeking to understand, I also seek to empower interdependence instead of co-dependence. I guess I have counseled numerous single adults where co-dependence & cyclic behavior is their nature. Or maybe this is because of many, many years of critical care thinking in medicine, but….whatever the reason, I begin the conversation with the end in mind! Many times my suggestions or resolutions present themselves simply in the form of compassion.

One of my favorite quotes is: “Your actions speak so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” May we, a nation of free enterprise independent business owners, thrive in our endeavors to secure our most precious possessions, Freedom & Liberty for all! We are not looking for a hand out, but a hand up. Let us embrace the commission in raising up leaders with common unity, not bearing arms, but bearing each other in hot pursuit of the joy in knowing we will make a difference. We will stop fighting each other & fight together for a noble cause. Find your why, ignore what “they” say, and live life on purpose. Stop following the herd of mediocrity & develop goals –planned attack on the status quo.

Michelangelo (1475 – 1564)

There is a multitude of hosts who have fought before, & an even greater cloud of witnesses that are cheering you on every second.